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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 348 Introduced in House (IH)]

107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 348

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
  violations in Pakistan of the freedom of individuals to profess and 
                      practice religion or belief.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 14, 2002

Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Pitts, 
  Mr. Brown of Ohio, and Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia) submitted the 
     following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                        International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to 
  violations in Pakistan of the freedom of individuals to profess and 
                      practice religion or belief.

Whereas under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 
        ``Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; 
        this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and 
        freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or 
        private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, 
        worship and observance'';
Whereas under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political 
        Rights, ``No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his 
        freedom to have or adopt a religion or belief of his choice'';
Whereas freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief is inextricably 
        linked to the exercise of other rights, including the right to freedom 
        of peaceful assembly and association, the right to freedom of 
        association with others, and the right to freedom of expression, and the 
        recognition that all persons are equal before the law and are entitled 
        without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law, including 
        in employment;
Whereas the Department of State's annual reports on religious freedom and human 
        rights have documented numerous instances of legal and government 
        discrimination in Pakistan based on religion or belief;
Whereas Pakistani Christians face tremendous persecution under that country's 
        Blasphemy Law, which is applied arbitrarily upon the accusation of 
        insult to the Prophet Mohammed or the Holy Koran and can carry the death 
        penalty;
Whereas minority Muslim groups in Pakistan also face oppression, as some have 
        been declared ``not Muslims'' in the eyes of the law and their practice 
        of elements of Islam is therefore considered blasphemous;
Whereas under current Martial Ordinance XX of 1984, everyday life of an Ahmadi 
        Muslim has been turned into a crime, and quotidian religious 
        observances, such as the traditional Muslim greeting ``peace be upon 
        you'' and the call to prayer are criminal acts punishable with 
        imprisonment when practiced by members of the Ahmadiyya community;
Whereas Church of Pakistan Bishop Alexander John Malik has described the 
        Blasphemy Law as a ``license to harass, enslave and eliminate minorities 
        and legalize religious persecution'';
Whereas while the blasphemy laws remain in place, Pakistan's religious 
        minorities are defenseless against opportunism and malice; and
Whereas General Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan explained that his ``view is of a 
        tolerant Islam, Islam in the true sense, and not an Islam which is 
        manipulated for political gains . . . Islam is a `deen', a way of life . 
        . . I am a believer in taking Islam in its real, progressive form--a 
        much broader futuristic view rather than a dogmatic and retrogressive 
        one'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on General Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan to repeal 
        the Blasphemy Law, which has become an instrument of 
        repression;
            (2) urges General Musharraf to repeal Martial Ordinance XX 
        which is in conflict with international law and the basic human 
        right of freedom of religion;
            (3) appeals to General Musharraf to release prisoners 
        jailed under Ordinance XX and the Blasphemy Law;
            (4) asks General Musharraf to repeal the 8th Amendment to 
        the Constitution of Pakistan declaring Ahmadis ``not Muslims'' 
        under the law;
            (5) encourages General Musharraf to eliminate the 
        requirement to declare one's religion when applying for a 
        passport or swear to exclusive statements regarding religion, 
        admission to an educational institution, obtaining the national 
        identity card, or employment; and
            (6) calls upon the President and the Secretary of State 
        to--
                    (A) raise violations of the freedom of thought, 
                conscience, religion, or belief, at every appropriate 
                level with representatives of the Government of 
                Pakistan, including during discussions regarding 
                terrorism and nuclear proliferation; and
                    (B) include experts on religious liberty on United 
                States delegations to Pakistan and to appropriate 
                regional and international meetings.
                                 <all>
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